Dr. Manzur Ejaz, a prolific author and literary critic, who was considered one of the leading historians of Punjabi language, passed away in Virginia on Sunday.
Known for his well-researched and candidly expressed opinions, Manzur Ejaz interpreted the dimensions of Punjabi culture, classical poetry and historical reasons that have kept a tap on flowering the Punjabi as a medium of literary works.
Manzur Ejaz came to the United States in the 1978 and earned a Ph.D. in Economics, which he taught as a subject for a living.
He also wrote regularly in English including a weekly column for English newspaper Daily Times.
But it was always his lifelong commitment to Punjabi language and literature that shaped his reputation as a literary figure.
In Virginia, his home was a literary haven for lovers of Punjabi language, where discussions would cover a host of issues including the development of poetry in both Punjabi and Urdu languages, their interplay, the ups and downs the Punjabi language saw despite producing some of the world’s finest mystical poets from Baba Farid to Mian Muhammad Bux.
In his Wichar YouTube channel appearances, he dwelt on the distinctive features of the classical Punjabi Sufi poets, set in the context of challenges and ethos of their times.
Manzur Ejaz was particularly recognized as an authority on interpretation of the Heer, the epic poem about Heer Ranjha love story with mystical dimensions. Although some of the leading poets attempted tell the story, he would always explain why poet Warish Shah’s Heer is the most distinguished.
His interpretation of Heer in a six-volume book “Warisnama” is a magnum opus on the subject in modern Punjabi literary history.
He also wrote a book on Shah titled “Waris Shah: The Ideologue.”
Manzur Ejaz’s impressive array of works include a widely hailed People’s History of Punjab, his autobiography “Jindraryee” and “Falsfay Di Tareekh” (the History of Philosophy) both written in the Punjabi language.
I was fortunate to be part of discussions on several occasions where Manzur Ejaz delineated the sublte interpretations of the classical poets. Once, he said Bulleh Shah apparently comes across a straight-shooter in everyday sounding language while versifying his experiences and spiritual connections. However, Bulleh Shah is one of the most difficult poets when it comes to translating his poems into English.
Dr. Ejaz would also often recall his association with poet Munir Niazi and shed light on his personality and works, otherwise unknown to modern readers of his books.
I will always remember how he encouraged me to go ahead with a translation/interpretation of “Heer” in English for the modern day readers, when I read out to him some passages from my interpretation.
He also corrected many of us when in this age of unconfirmed attributions, classical Punjabi poems are wrongly attributed to poets on the Internet.
He would also share this views on literary developments as he saw from his native town Sahiwal to the mainstream Pakistani literary circles and in the United States.
Eminent poet Sarmad Sehbai, journalists Anwar Iqbal and Wajid Ali Syed regularly visited Manzur Ejaz, who defied his physical challenges to remain a vibrant voice on the literary scene for more than than half a century. They expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the grand man of letters.
Anwar Iqbal, who is Washington Correspondent for Dawn, paid tributes to Manzur Ejaz as a “mentor and father figure to all thoughtful Pakistanis in North America and beyond.”
“But his thoughts and memories will always stay with us. He was one of the few Pakistani intellectuals who held the beacon of freedom high during the dark days of (Gen) Zia’s martial law, continuing his struggle from abroad,” Iqbal said in a post.
Wajid Ali Syed, who anchored discussion on great Punjabi classical poets with Manzur Ejaz to the tremendous benefit of the current generation of readers called wrote,” Our beloved Dr. Manzur Ejaz passed away. RIP my friend!!”
My first introduction to Manzur Ejaz came soon after I arrived in the United States, when a Pakistani community newspaper reporter Javed Kausar told me about him. Over the years, whenever I met with Manzur Ejaz, I always felt that I was privileged as I was listening to a man steeped in the Punjabi culture an its ethos – a son of the soil who proudly devoted his life to exploring literary thoughts and the beautiful dimensions of his mother tongue.
What a gem, he must. May Allah bless him with eternal peace. My deepest condolences.